Yes, you are somebody special.

Even if no one ever said those words to you...it doesn't minimize the fact that you are SOMEBODY special.  God makes no mistakes…no one got here by accident.

As you read this blog. . .put aside any negative comments about yourself from the past.

Just focus on the fact that you are. . .somebody special.

1 Thessalonians 4:4 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

"[O] brethren beloved by God, we recognize and know that He has selected (chosen) you."

Of all the people currently drawing a breath on planet earth. . .God, the Master of the Universe. . .has chosen you.

The next two verses . . .will and should make you SHOUT. . .glory Hallelujah!!

1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 in the Message Bible says:

“. . . God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.”

Personalize this verse for yourself … do it until you feel God wrapping His loving arms around you!

“. . . God not only loves <<Your Name>> very much but also has put his hand on <<him/her>> for something special. When the Message we preached came to <<Your Name>>, it wasn't just words. Something happened in <<Your Name>>. The Holy Spirit put steel in <<his/her>> convictions.”

It doesn’t matter whether you can or ever did … play sports, an instrument in the band or sing in the Glee Club. . .you have something special to achieve in your life because God made sure you were born.

1 Peter 2:1 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

“So be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.”

So, you may ask, "How did you become someone special?"  The answer has little to do with you … but God wants to carry out great plans through you.

I’m somebody special because I’ve chosen to follow, listen to and obey “Someone greater” than myself.

Each day I attempt to set aside malice, anger, hypocrisy and deception.

Truthfully, the personal conduct "biggie" that must of us struggle with is "evil speaking." 

Controlling our words can be tough to do.

But it is possible and we can do it.

1 Peter 2:2-3 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.”

Everything starts somewhere. 

Speaking naturally, I "started" at birth in Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston, NC.  In fact, my parents just presented me with a photograph of the old hospital. 

Spiritually, my point of origin was at the altar in the First Free Will Baptist Church building.

It was there that I went from hell to heaven bound.

But, later in life. . .it was through learning His Word that I have grown strong in Him.

It is through daily intake of His Word that I can say "...the Lord is gracious."

1 Peter 2:4 in the New King James Version says:

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.”

At one time or another all people experience rejection and the enemy makes sure there’s a big variety of reasons available.

The key is not internalizing the rejection or allowing it to create a stronghold in your life.

In the natural, we may feel there is nothing special about us. . .but there is.

No one has your fingerprints or voice prints. . .that makes you unique in all the earth. . .throughout history.

This just stirred in me.

Don’t worry about how pretty or handsome you are.

God loves you for who you are. . .not how you look.

1 Samuel 16:7 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

“. . .For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

You and I hold exceptional positions on earth:

Say this:

I am a living stone.

One more time.

I am a living stone.

I am someone special to God. He has chosen me to work for Him.

Just like you, I am one of the living stones Jesus is using today to build His Kingdom.

1 Peter 2:5 in the New King James Version says:

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
The spiritual sacrifices we offer up begin with a willing heart.

We are a holy priesthood.  No, we do not offer Levitical sacrifices.

But, we do offer spiritual sacrifices...things like willing praise on a day when we are bone tired or feeling down . . . like helping others when it’s not convenient with our schedule.

These sacrifices are not acceptable because we are the natural offspring of some great family.

These efforts are acceptable because they flow between our heart and the heart of God.

1 Peter 2:6 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

“For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame.”
In the past year and a half. . .I have experienced some challenges with my health.

As great as the struggle may seem, I have a greater promise:  Believing His Word will never leave me disappointed or put to shame.

On the contrary … His Word healed me and got me through some different realities than I’ve ever experienced before.

The Word of God is my complete reality. Each moment of my life is lived in anticipation of my circumstances catching up with my faith.

1 Peter 2:7-8 in the New King James Version says:

“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected  Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “ A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.”  They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”

The roots of America are in Christianity.

I remember several years ago, President Obama said the United States is no longer a Christian nation.

I completely disagree.  The United States is a backslidden Christian nation.

Our role as believers is to keep living a life that witnesses...even if our very presence offends others.

Please allow me to explain. 

We are not to be offensive to others. 

But, some will always find our holy lifestyle offensive.

Let’s look at the last part of 1 Peter 2:8 again. . .this time in The Living Bible which says:

“They will stumble because they will not listen to God’s Word nor obey it, and so this punishment must follow—that they will fall.”

We stumble. . .when we don’t listen to and obey God’s Word.

1 Peter 2:9-10 in The Living Bible says:

“But you are not like that, for you have been chosen by God himself—you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own—all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were less than nothing; now you are God’s own. Once you knew very little of God’s kindness; now your very lives have been changed by it.”

Let’s look at the seven keys in this verse.

First, you are not like those who don’t listen to or obey God’s Word.

Second, you have been chosen by God himself. . .think about that.

Third, you are priests of the King and you are holy and pure.

Fourth, you are somebody special because you are God’s very own.

Fifth, you are to witness to others how God brought you out of the darkness and into the light.

Sixth, once you were less than nothing but now you’re somebody special because you are God’s own.

Seventh, though you were once in sin. . .things changed when you let Jesus come into your heart.

It was He through His magnificent mercy that I was eternally changed.

We are a chosen generation.  We are His royal priesthood ministering on His behalf here on earth.

We are His own special people because we know we have been bought with a special price, the Blood of Jesus.

Because we know Who purchased us, we give praise to Him for delivering us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

At one time we were nothing special. 

But we received the mercy of God and now we can be described as "one of God's own" and that makes us somebody special!

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